As UAV Market in Middle East Grows, US May Look to Draw Back

Driven by the need to keep borders secure, the use of UAVs is likely to grow in the Middle East — just as top US generals are looking to move away from a reliance on unmanned systems for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).

“In the international market, the Middle East is going to be very important in terms of size and for US manufacturers,” said Phil Finnegan, director of corporate analysis at the Teal Group.

The market for UAVs in the Middle East is around US $260 million this year, Finnegan said. His research predicts the market will be worth $3.8 billion over the next decade, with the Middle East capturing 8 percent of the world market.